From ASW to Counter-IED

They’re throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the IED problem:

Earlier this year, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England directed each of the military services to fund a handful of specific programs related to defeating roadside bombs in their six-year budget plans. The Navy, in particular, was directed to fund counter-IED efforts involving robotic systems, the convoy-planning tool software program, the CREW 3 (counter radio controlled improvised explosive device electronic warfare) program, and the combined explosive exploitation cell support effort.

The Navy in recent years has modified its P-3C Orion aircraft with a number of new technologies to expand its set of missions beyond maritime patrol to include ground-based operations. Through the P-3 Aircraft Improvement Program (AIP), the sea service has added long-range electro-optical video imaging systems, high-resolution infrared imaging systems, and synthetic as well as inverse synthetic-aperture radars — tools that gave the aircraft intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance utility in operations over Afghanistan in 2001.

Headline a year from now: Military to employ kitchen sinks in effort to counter IEDs.

#Posted by Murdoc at 12:50
Air, World War 4